Francis Finalizes Preparations for Team's Arrival

1. Julio, Angel and I traveled in MDLF on 22 Jan 2011. We left at 3:30 a.m. We met Angel in Siria. Saturday is market day in LaCeiba in MDLF, and even though we got there very early, many people and traders were already present. Ultimately, I would guess around 500 people, 100 horses and mules and many large trucks.

2. Julio was meeting with people from LaCeiba. Angel and I wired in a new hot water head (called a Ducha) so that team members can have a warm shower if they like. It is even grounded. We set-up one of the 3 generators and made sure it worked. It did! We then went to finish installing the new shower in the other building where a latrine and shower had been built. We were to connect more tubes and then install the same type of Ducha. Unfortunately, we could not get the key to work to the area so we did not complete this project, but hope to on 27 Jan 2011. The ride back to Tegus was normal.

3. Julio and I went to mass on Sunday at 7 a.m. I was sick Saturday night with a fever and pain all over. It did not get better on Sunday; it got worse. Sunday night was hard, but after taking some pain medicine and acetaminophen, my fever broke early Monday morning. I had total body pain for 2-3 days, but it is much better today.

4. Monday, Julio and I went to buy a few more supplies that we will need in the area where Dulce cooks. We also took Raul back to his home. He had taken his truck in for some repairs before I drive it to MDLF. I took a long nap in the afternoon to get feeling better. It has been terribly hot, except on Sunday when it rained heavy and was cool.

5. On Tuesday, Julio and I went shopping for food to take to the mountain. Dulce will buy certain items in Sulaco and in Acote. We spent about 2 hours in the big outdoor market, Belen, which is close to Juan and Lissie's home. It is the 2nd largest market in Tegus. Someday I will take you there. It truly is quite the place. You really have to be careful. I only took so many lempiras with me. There are very few gringos that go there, but Julio was with me. We had no problems except for finding a place to park the truck and have it be safe. Just as we were buying our last items, the police told me I had to move the truck. The problem was the guy behind me. He was blocking the lane of traffic. Cars, trucks and people were everywhere. You've past this market many times on Blvd. Del Norte.

6. I've spoken with Dr. Coello and Dr. Hutto a few times since Sunday. I spoke with Dr. Kemmer yesterday in the afternoon. Her team was heading to Omaha later and would fly on Delta to Tegus. They arrive about 1:30 p.m. I will be there, and I'm sure Dr. Coello and others will as well.

7. Carlos will leave from San Pedro Sula tomorrow, 27 Jan, and join us in Talanga. The people from Talanga will ride with Carlos. My truck will be full of food items etc. We will meet Fausto in El Guante. I must travel from Tegus to Talanga tomorrow by myself.

8. Julio, Dulce and others will leave from Sulaco early tomorrow morning to begin setting up the kitchen area. If all goes well, we should join them around 3 p.m. in the afternoon. We will have everything ready for the team from JTFB when they arrive on 28 Jan 2011.

9. While at the airport, I will buy some more Cuban cigars for chiefs Julio and Alvero.

That's about that. I will have cell phone coverage until we get about 7 km's north of Acote. I'm sure I will be back in Acote a time or two, and I probably will bring my computer down with me. Hope all is well in Le Mars. Hi to all. Peace.

Mr. Francis

Update on Current Situation in Honduras

The following are notes from Francis Seivert, Elkton, SD, while representing Mission Honduras LeMars. This information concerns our joint medical team mission to Montaña de la Flor.

It is about noon.  Julio and I are in Esquias.  It is really hot here. Here is a brief rundown of my activity so far.

1.  Arrived in Honduras without incident on Saturday 15 Jan 2011.  I was met by Graciela.  I stayed with Marny's family Saturday evening.

2.  I called and left a message for Julio to meet me at Juan’s and Lissie's home Sunday afternoon 16  Jan 2011.  I previously had spoken with him on his cell phone.

3. I met Dr. Coello (JTFB) at Las Cascades Mall Sunday afternoon.  Marny was with me.  Dr. Coello gave me an update on the planning and the presentation that they had presented to the base commander at JTFB.  This was done via PowerPoint presentation.  We talked about MHL's role, and I gave him an update on my planning so far and what I still had to accomplish.

4. Julio arrived in Tegus about 6:30 pm.  He had been working in his coffee field along with his family.

 5. I exchanged $$ at a bank Monday morning.  I then drove to Cerro de Plata and talked with Marta.  I gave her a few items sent by Karmen for her family.  I also gave her $$ and other items to give to the Charity House sisters.  We also picked up 8 cases of Plumpy Nut to take to MDLF.

 6. We had called Angel earlier in the morning and would meet him and the volunteers from the Passionists’ organization.  They will help translate during this mission.

7. The road north out of Tegus is just as bad as it was when I was here in December. It gets better once you get to Talanga.

8. We had a 1 1/2 hour meeting with Angel and 6 of the translators.  I gave them a briefing of the upcoming trip and stressed how important the translators will be when conducting the extensive survey at each of the homes and with the kids that are selected.

9. Angel would join Julio and I the next day in Sulaco.

10. Julio and I drove to Esquias on Monday.  Once again it is very hot here, and very dry, therefore, the roads are really dusty.  (Just a quick update on the road from the pavement to Esquias.) The 1st 8 km's are about the same...bumpy and rocky.  The 2nd leg (also 8 km's) is worse than in December - very rutted and bumpy and also very dusty.  The last leg (8 km's) was really good, and we could really cruise.  We went 8 km's in about 9 minutes vs. 22 or 23 minutes in the past 11. On Tuesday morning Julio and I sorted items located in the bodega that we would need to take to MDLF.  I had previously purchased these items on Monday morning at a Do It Center.  We collected a shower heating element, wiring, mop heads, brooms, extension cord and a few more item.  I also had stopped in Talanga at the local market and brought four 8-gallon gasoline containers and 2 mop handles (can you believe I could not find these in Tegus?).  Julio and I then packed the truck with various items to take to MDLF.  These included the above items, our large generator, bags of pillows, 8 cases of Plumpy Nut, our engineering tubes (various tools, cords, and other supplies needed to make light in MDLF, tarps, our 2 stoves, 2 tanks of gas and other items.  We had to cover the truck box with a tarp because of the dust.  The ride to Sulaco was typical, bumpy.

12. Julio and I met with Dulce about the mission.  She will bring her daughter along to help cook and her youngest daughter (10) and her granddaughter (6) along with her since there would not be an adult figure in her home.  We will use her large stove as well.  I told her that we will be cooking for about 25-30 people.  The JTFB team of soldiers will eat MRE's.  I told her that typically she would make breakfast and a meal at night-time.  During the day with the teams in the field they will be eating MRE's. She prepared a shopping list for Julio and me.  We will buy most items in Tegus. She will buy some on Saturday at the market day in MDLF.  If needed, we will travel down to Acote (1 hour, or 21 km's).  Angel arrived in Sulaco about 4 pm on his motorcycle.

13. Julio, Angel and I left Sulaco for MDLF at 0350 hours on Wednesday morning. Angel went ahead on this motorcycle because he would be returning to Talanga, and Julio and I would be returning to Esquias for more supplies.  We arrived in Acote at 0530 hours.  A quick cup of coffee and a couple of cookies (Julio had talked with a friend that would make us coffee) and we were on the way. We arrived in La Ceiba, MDLF, at 0650 hours.  It was very cool.  The group that had built the building below the community center had a team of people staying there and were building a latrine, shower unit and had wired the building and were putting light bulbs in place.  Of course, a generator is the only power source here.  We had planned to rebuild the shower line in the community center and then put a new heating element in place.  The group had repaired the valve. Since we planned to return on Saturday, we decided to wait to do this. We will also install the plumbing tubes and new valve for the shower in the lower building, as well as connect a heating head element.  We have many more supplies to take to MDLF...blankets, mattresses, sheets etc.  I will also need to buy 15 large bottles of water (JTFB will bring cases of smaller bottles) so this is in addition to JTFB.  I will also buy Coke, Pepsi, etc. in Acote or maybe in Esquias. It all depends on space in the truck.

14. Things are the same in MDLF.  Many large trucks taking people up higher to pick coffee, while some of the Tolupan buying items that the truck drivers had brought along to sell on the way.  We stopped in Acote for something to eat, to develop a list of more items needed in the 2nd building. We returned by a different road, which was better and shorter.  We will take this road on Saturday when we return to MDLF.  We will meet Angel in Dona Blanca's village. He will park his motorcycle there for security.  Julio and I returned to Esquias in the afternoon.  We were both very tired and we went to bed early.

15. Today, Thursday we are washing clothes, sorting out some more items from the bodega.

16. I have been having trouble getting 2 more trucks to use while the team is in MDLF.  We need to move them to areas where they will hike into the mountains to do the house visits etc.  I am still waiting to hear from Marta if she has found any.  I have also rented a 14-person van from Gustavo.

17. I have spoken with the Officer in Charge of the mission as well as Dr. Coello.  The OIC is a Captain and a doctor.  I don't have the exact number of people that may be involved with this mission, but it is many.  All members of JTFB will be airlifted to La Ceiba and may have to make a number of trips to get all the personnel and material needed to La Ceiba.  I plan to move our team of translators, cooks, and others to MDLF on the afternoon of 27 Jan 2011.  Dr. Coello and I are talking about the need to move 5 people from the MoH in Tegus to MDLF for the last 2 days.  I do not have confirmation of this yet, but it will add more stress in finding a vehicle.  I guess they do not have a vehicle to get them to MDLF.  We'll have to wait and see.  Along with many tests that the teams will do each day, Dr. Coello is telling me that 5 people will come from the clinic in Orika on the last 2 larger clinic days to do pap smears etc. They will not be staying overnight, thankfully, because I don't know where I would put them.

18. This team may be at least 45 people and maybe even bigger.  Logistics are very important here, and I hope we can get all bases covered.  I have 3 generators on site in La Ceiba so that is not a problem. We also changed oil in the generators yesterday while in MDLF.  The added latrine will be a great help at this time. I am charging our portable nebulizer and ultrasound.  I will take them along so if needed they can be used.  I am currently working on my finances to make sure I have enough $$ to cover many unforeseen costs.  Also, I helped a number of Tolupan on Saturday with lempiras for food.  We also stopped and talked with Francesca on our return.  We have a picture.  She looks good, but needs to see a dentist.  I need to talk with Marta and get her into a special program for helping these types of kids with dental care.  I gave her 500 lempiras for food.  I did not visit Franci, but will on my return off the mountain on Saturday.  It's been a hard ride so far, but many more hard rides are ahead.  We have gotten a lot done.  The computer is working well, and the Tigo internet connection is working well as long as the signal is good.  I am typing this message from the dining area at the center.  I will talk with you again.

Peace.

Mr. Francis